Worthington in fight to save job

Tuesday 26 September 2006 20.36 EDT
First published on Tuesday 26 September 2006 20.36 EDT

Nigel Worthington's hold on the manager's position at Norwich City appeared to be loosening last night after the club's majority shareholders, Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones, heavily criticised the team's display at Plymouth on Saturday and demanded an immediate improvement over the next two matches.

Smith and Wynn Jones have been strongly supportive of Worthington during his time in charge but the statement released yesterday suggested he now has 180 minutes to save his job.

Norwich had started the season brightly but the 3-1 defeat at Home Park was their fourth league match without a victory and they have only won once away from home in the Championship in 2006. Having failed to meet expectations last season, when City began the campaign as favourites only to finish in ninth place, the club's owners are anxious that this term does not follow the same pattern. Norwich are currently 14th, nine points behind the league leaders, Cardiff.

The statement, which apologised to the travelling Norwich fans, said: "We and the board are deeply disappointed by the lack of passion and commitment in the team's performance on Saturday ... We are determined to achieve success at Norwich City and to that end we expect this situation to be rectified at our next home game on Sunday and at our next away game. We rely on our manager and squad to do this not only on behalf of our supporters but for the long-term future of the club."

The board's comments crank up the pressure on Worthington ahead of Sunday's home game against Burnley when fans are understood to be planning a protest. Last December the Norwich City Independent Supporters Association issued a statement calling for the board to dismiss Worthington when it became clear the club would not be returning to the Premiership at the first attempt, and Saturday's defeat was met with chants of "We want Worthy out".

Worthington, who took over at Carrow Road in December 2000, has seen his position undermined further by an incident at training last Thursday when Youssef Safri and Dickson Etuhu had to be separated by team-mates after they became involved in a fight following a dangerous tackle.

Several fans witnessed the confrontation and although Smith had not been present at the time she was at the training ground that day and was quickly made aware of the fracas.